Clip having a solid locking structure

ABSTRACT

A clip includes two jaw portions having one end secured together with a coupling portion and having the other end for clamping onto a sheet material. One of the jaw portions includes a fastener extended through the other jaw portion, and engaged with such as a lock nut, for clamping and securing the jaw portions onto the sheet material. The fastener and the lock nut will not be easily disengaged from each other such that the jaw portions will not be disengaged from each other inadvertently. The lock nut includes a barrel engaged between the fastener and the jaw portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a clip, and more particularly to a clip having a solid locking structure.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,313 to Cameron discloses one of the typical clips including a pair of jaw portions for clamping onto a sheet of material, such as the trouser waistband, and a locking collar engaged onto the jaw portions for engaging with a ratchet pawl and for locking the jaw portions together, in order to clamp the sheet material between the jaw portions. However, the locking collar may be easily moved relative to the jaw portions, such that the jaw portions may be released or unlocked inadvertently while in use.

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional clips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a clip including a solid locking structure for firmly locking the jaw portions together and for preventing the jaw portions from being disengaged from each other inadvertently.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a clip comprising a first and a second jaw portions including a first end secured together with a coupling portion, and each including a second end for engaging with and for clamping onto a sheet material, the first jaw portion including an aperture formed therein, the second jaw portion including a first fastener member secured thereto and extended therefrom and extended through the aperture of the first jaw portion, and a second fastener member engaged onto the first fastener member for locking the first and the second jaw portions together and for clamping and securing the first and the second jaw portions onto the sheet material. The first and the second fastener members may be engaged with each other for solidly locking the jaw portions together and for clamping and securing the jaw portions onto the sheet material. The fasteners will not be easily disengaged from each other such that the jaw portions will not be disengaged from each other inadvertently.

[0008] The first and the second jaw portions each includes at least one tooth provided on the second end thereof for engaging with and for clamping onto the sheet material.

[0009] The first fastener member is a bolt extended through the aperture of the first jaw portion, and the second fastener member is a lock nut engaged onto the bolt.

[0010] The second fastener member includes a barrel engaged into the aperture of the first jaw portion and engaged between the first fastener member and the first jaw portion.

[0011] The second fastener member is preferably a lock nut having an outer peripheral portion and having at least one flat surface formed therein for facilitating a rotation of the lock nut.

[0012] The coupling portion of the clip includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving a cable and for coupling or securing to the other objects.

[0013] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip in accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the clip;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the clip; and

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a clip in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of jaw portions 10, 30 including one end secured together with a live hinge or a coupling portion 20, and each including one or more teeth 11, 31 formed or provided on the other end thereof for engaging with and for clamping onto a sheet material 70 (FIG. 5). The coupling portion 20 of the clip includes one or more orifices 21 formed therein for receiving ropes or cables 22 therein which may be used for coupling to the other objects.

[0020] One of the jaw portions 30 includes an aperture 32 formed therein. The other jaw portion 10 includes a latch or a bolt or a fastener 12 secured thereto and extended therefrom and extended through the aperture 32 of the jaw portion 30. A quick release lock device, or a fastener member or a lock nut 40 is engaged onto the fastener 12 for locking the jaw portions 10, 30 together and for clamping and securing the jaw portions 10, 30 onto the sheet material 70, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0021] The lock nut 40 includes an inner thread or a screw hole 41 formed therein for threading with the fastener 12, and includes a barrel 42 extended downward therefrom for engaging into the aperture 32 of the jaw portion 30 (FIGS. 3. 4) and for engaging between the fastener 12 and the jaw portion 30 and for preventing the jaw portion 30 from slightly moving relative to the fastener 12 and the jaw portion 10. The lock nut 40 further includes one or more cut portions or flat surfaces 43 formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for allowing the lock nut 40 to be rotated manually or to be driven by the other driving tools.

[0022] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock nut 40 may be rotated relative to or engaged onto the fastener 12 for solidly locking the jaw portions 10, 30 together and for clamping and securing the jaw portions 10, 30 onto the sheet material 70. The lock nut 40 will not be easily disengaged from the fastener 12, such that the jaw portions 10, 30 will not be disengaged from each other inadvertently.

[0023] Accordingly, the clip in accordance with the present invention includes a solid locking structure for firmly locking the jaw portions together and for preventing the jaw portions from being disengaged from each other inadvertently.

[0024] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A clip comprising: a first and a second jaw portions including a first end secured together with a coupling portion, and each including a second end for engaging with and for clamping onto a sheet material, said first jaw portion including an aperture formed therein, said second jaw portion including a first fastener member secured thereto and extended therefrom and extended through said aperture of said first jaw portion, and a second fastener member engaged onto said first fastener member for locking said first and said second jaw portions together and for clamping and securing said first and said second jaw portions onto the sheet material.
 2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second jaw portions each includes at least one tooth provided on said second end thereof for engaging with and for clamping onto the sheet material.
 3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener member is a bolt extended through said aperture of said first jaw portion, and said second fastener member is a lock nut engaged onto said bolt.
 4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said second fastener member includes a barrel engaged into said aperture of said first jaw portion and engaged between said first fastener member and said first jaw portion.
 5. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said second fastener member is a lock nut having an outer peripheral portion and having at least one flat surface formed therein for facilitating a rotation of said lock nut.
 6. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said coupling portion of said clip includes at least one orifice formed therein for receiving a cable. 